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Metal Church
Photo: Andreas Lawen, Fotandi · CC BY-SA 3.0

Band · United States

Metal Church

Formed in 1980

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Metal Church tour dates 2026

Metal Church has 35 upcoming shows between Monday, November 2, 2026 and Saturday, April 24, 2027, across 3 countries: United States, Canada, Brazil. The next one is on Monday, November 2, 2026, in San Juan Capistrano, United States (Coach House Concert Hall).

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More concerts: United States · Canada · Brazil

Tour dates elsewhere: Bandsintown · Songkick

About

Metal Church is an American heavy metal band formed in 1980. Originally based in San Francisco, California, they relocated to Aberdeen, Washington the following year and briefly called themselves Shrapnel. Led by guitarist and songwriter Kurdt Vanderhoof, the band has released fourteen studio albums and is considered to be an integral part of the then-emerging Seattle heavy metal music scene of the 1980s, as well as pioneers of the thrash metal, speed metal and power metal genres. They achieved considerable popularity that decade, with two of their first three albums entering the Top 100 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. The band's early lyrical topics, such as conflict and paranoia, later expanded into philosophical, political and social commentary.

Metal Church has had a revolving lineup of vocalists, guitarists, bassists and drummers throughout its 46-year career, and Vanderhoof remains the band's sole consistent creative force, despite reducing his role strictly to composition in 1986 after tiring of performing live. The "classic" lineup of Vanderhoof, vocalist David Wayne, guitarist Craig Wells, bassist Duke Erickson, and drummer Kirk Arrington recorded the band's first two studio albums, Metal Church (1984) and their major breakthrough The Dark (1986). By the end of the 1980s, Vanderhoof and Wayne had parted ways with the band and were replaced by guitarist John Marshall and vocalist Mike Howe, respectively. Metal Church's popularity continued with its third album Blessing in Disguise (1989), which spawned one of their best-known songs "Badlands". After releasing two more studio albums with Howe, The Human Factor (1991) and Hanging in the Balance (1993), the band first broke up in 1996.

Metal Church reformed in 1998 with most of their "classic" lineup, including Vanderhoof's return to performance, resulting in the band's sixth studio album Masterpeace (1999); however, internal conflicts and Wayne's second departure from the band in 2001 resulted in their second hiatus. Metal Church reunited in 2003, with Ronny Munroe replacing Wayne, and the band underwent a few lineup changes within the next six years, leaving Vanderhoof as the only remaining original member. Following their third disbandment in July 2009, the group reunited for the third time in October 2012, and released their tenth studio album Generation Nothing a year later. Following Munroe's departure in the fall of 2014, Metal Church considered disbanding for the third time before Howe was rehired in April 2015 as their lead singer. He recorded two more albums with the band, which had enjoyed a renewed popularity during the mid-to-late 2010s, before his death on July 26, 2021. Howe was replaced by Marc Lopes, who made his only appearance with Metal Church on their thirteenth studio album Congregation of Annihilation (2023). Another lineup change occurred in 2025, with former Vicious Rumors singer Brian Allen replacing Lopes, and original Megadeth bassist David Ellefson and drummer Ken Mary of Fifth Angel and Flotsam and Jetsam joining the fold.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Also in Français

Metal Church est un groupe de heavy metal américain, originaire d'Aberdeen, dans l'État de Washington. Le groupe compte neuf albums studio et un album live entre 1984 et 2008, et annonce l'arrêt de ses activités le 7 juillet 2009 par un communiqué publié sur son site officiel. En 2016 sort un nouvel album intitulé XI avec le retour du chanteur Mike Howe.

Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Discography

Albums

Show all (14)

Singles

Questions about Metal Church’s tour

When is Metal Church’s next show?

Metal Church’s next show is on Monday, November 2, 2026, in San Juan Capistrano, United States (Coach House Concert Hall).

Where is Metal Church touring in 2026?

Metal Church is scheduled to play in San Juan Capistrano (United States), Pomona (United States), Mesa (United States), Albuquerque (United States), Colorado Springs (United States), Denver (United States), Boise (United States), Great Falls (United States) and 27 other cities.

Where can I buy tickets for Metal Church?

Each date in the list above links to its ticket page when there is one, through sellers such as bandsintown.com.

Where can I listen to Metal Church?

Metal Church is on Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, Qobuz, SoundCloud. The links are at the top of this page.

How do I keep up with new Metal Church dates?

Add the dates to your calendar (iCal) or subscribe to the RSS feed, both linked under the list of shows. You can also follow Metal Church to get an email as soon as a show is announced near you.

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